Influences of ovarian hormones on the food intake and feeding of captive and wild female chacma baboons (Papio ursinus).

The relationship between ovarian hormone changes and food intake was examined in three separate studies using captive intact, captive ovariectomized and wild intact chacma baboons (Papio ursinus). Measures of body weight, perineal turgescence and food intake all varied across the menstrual cycle for a group of seventeen intact laboratory housed females. Body weights showed steady increases up until the day of sex skin detumescence or breakdown. Perineal swell ratings also showed a constant rise ending with breakdown. Food intake, however, showed a pattern of decrease until three days preceding breakdown. Statistical analysis revealed a significant difference between food intake during the preovulatory and luteal period phases. Exogenous estradiol benzoate (EB) and progesterone treatments to a group of ten ovariectomized females demonstrated an inhibitory effect of EB upon food intake. No effects for progesterone were demonstrated. A field study of two wild troops confirmed a difference in percentage of time spent feeding for females in the fully swollen condition as contrasted to those whose perineums were flat. Data collected on fully swollen females suggested that consort relations had little effect upon the females' feeding time percentages.